by Bob Groeneveld/Special to the 91原创 Advance
There is no shortage of different historical angles to tap into in the Fraser Valley.
鈥淟et鈥檚 be more aware of the heritage around us before it disappears, because development is just forging ahead,鈥� Mark Forsythe explained his passion for his latest on-air project.
The retired CBC Radio Morning Show and BC Almanac host is back on the air, this time hosting Valley Voices, a monthly podcast steeped in history, at CIVL 鈥� a local radio station housed at University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford.
Forsythe developed an interest in B.C. history and heritage 鈥� and a fondness for sharing that interest 鈥� during his 30 years at the CBC.
A resident of Fort 91原创 for the past 鈥�24 years or so,鈥� he is an active member of the 91原创 Heritage Society, serving on the board and 鈥渟ort of looking after their website, and I鈥檓 doing some videos with high school students about some of our heritage properties.鈥�
鈥淭he more I get involved in the heritage community, the more I鈥檓 learning about the history of the region,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 surrounded by all these people who have so much knowledge.鈥�
There鈥檚 more to the history he鈥檒l be sharing than dates and places.
His first show, which aired on March 7 and can be heard or through the LHS site at , includes discussions with UBC professor emeritus Jean Barman: 鈥淚 stuck a microphone in front of her face to talk about how you can research your own local history and what some of the resources are.鈥�
Local historian Warren Sommer also joined him for the first show.
He is helping Forsythe tap into hundreds of audio files from the archives at 91原创 Centennial Museum, interviews with 91原创 pioneers made by Sommer and others over many years.
Forsythe is starting with 91原创, explaining, 鈥淚 kind of think 91原创鈥檚 history is the Fraser Valley鈥檚 history. The Hudson Bay Co. set up shop right outside my window here. [91原创 history] shares a lot in common with the development in Chilliwack-Abbotsford corridor.鈥�
But the whole valley is at his disposal.
An upcoming podcast will include discussions with Sharn Sandhra who will talk about how and why the Abbotsford Sikh Temple was built more than 100 years ago.
鈥淭he temple is a national historic site that a lot of people aren鈥檛 aware of,鈥� Forsythe noted.
Another upcoming podcast will bring a human touch on the heritage CN Station in Fort 91原创. He鈥檒l talk with Diane Simpson, whose father was the last station agent there: 鈥淪he grew up at stations like it on the Prairies, and she鈥檚 a keen volunteer who goes down to the station and talks about that history with people.鈥�
Forsythe feels the material available to him is endless.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no shortage of different historical angles to tap into,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think there is a Fraser Valley identity, and it鈥檚 been there a long time.鈥�
Forsythe鈥檚 Valley Voices is recorded and aired on the first Wednesday of every month, then repeated subsequent Wednesdays during that month at about 11 a.m. on CIVL 101.7 FM.
Anyone with suggestions for aspects of 91原创 and Fraser Valley history that they鈥檇 like to hear on Valley Voices can email to: info@langleyheritage.ca.
